Criticism from Republicans, veterans and their families continues to mount against GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump for his remarks about a Muslim Gold Star mother who appeared at the Democratic convention.
Women from two Gold Star families here in Maine say Trump’s remarks have left them conflicted over his candidacy, while Maine Sen. Susan Collins says the incident is making it increasingly difficult to support the party’s nominee.
The furor began after Trump suggested that Ghazala Khan, the mother of a slain U.S. soldier, was restricted from speaking alongside her husband at the convention because her Muslim religion prohibits it. Since then Trump has accused the Khans of attacking him.
The controversy shows no signs of subsiding as the GOP presidential nominee prepares for a campaign stop in Portland Thursday. President Obama stepped up his criticism of Trump, calling him “unfit to serve as president,” and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said she was stunned by the candidate’s remarks.
“It is inconceivable to me that anyone in this country, much less a presidential candidate, would denigrate the service of an individual who gave his life for our country and would criticize that person’s parents,” Collins says, referring to the Khans’ son, who was killed in Iraq by a suicide bomber 12 years ago.
During his speech to the Democratic National Convention, Khizr Khan denounced Trump’s plan to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States. While his wife looked on, Khan said Trump’s proposal was “unconstitutional” and then went on to say Trump had “sacrificed nothing and no one.”
Trump responded by saying that he had built buildings and then singling out Ghazala Khan for remaining silent.
Collins said Trump is placing his candidacy on the line by doubling down on the Khans.
“I am appalled by Donald Trump’s actions and by his continuing to criticize and attack the Khan family,” Collins says. “It is just inconceivable to me that he is continuing to do it. And it makes it more difficult for me in making my final decision on whether or not I can support him.”
“The Khans’ son put his life on the line for us, he put it on the line for Mr. Trump as well as me, as well as my children as well as my husband,” says Amy Balduf of Richmond, a Gold Star wife who lost her husband Kevin five years ago when the U.S. Marine was serving his third tour in Afghanistan.
Kevin Balduf was awarded the Bronze Star and died at 27 in a 2011 attack on the base of the Afghan National Civil Order of Police, leaving Amy Balduf a widow and his children fatherless.
“What he said was completely asinine,” she says. “He should never have said it, and if he really feels that way, then why does he want to be the president of our country?”
Balduf has been a Trump supporter, but the candidate’s recent remarks and other statements is giving her second thoughts about supporting the billionaire entrepreneur.
“I am a Trump supporter and I have been a Trump supporter, am I in favor of everything he’s said lately? No I’m not — he has made some of the stupidest remarks I have ever heard in my life,” she says. “But I’m definitely not a Hillary supporter.”
And Balduf isn’t alone. Nancy Chamberlain is a Gold Star mother from Winslow whose son Jay Aubin, a Marine, was killed in a helicopter accident 13 years ago. She says Trump’s statements about the Khans are forcing her to reconsider her support of the candidate.
“I was supporting him and I still don’t know, because I can’t read how it’s going to go,” Chamberlain says. “I’m just going to sit back and watch for a while.”
One Republican who isn’t appalled by Trump’s statements is Gov. Paul LePage, who essentially said that although Trump said what he said, it’s probably not what he intended.
“Seriously, I do not believe for one second that he meant to personally attack Mrs. Kahn — I just don’t believe it,” LePage says. “Was it a slip of the tongue? Fine. He might have, but I don’t believe for one second that he said he was going after a Gold Star mom. So I think, slip of the tongue and everybody’s making a big deal of it.”
When questioned during an Ellsworth appearance with Collins, Republican 2nd District U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin said he could not answer any questions about Trump’s remarks.
MPBN reporters Susan Sharon and Mal Leary contributed to this story.